India Approves $11.64B Defence Procurement for Armed Forces

India’s Defence Acquisition Council has approved defence procurement worth $11.64 billion, covering the Army, Navy and Air Force. About 98% of the purchases will come from Indian industry, supporting military modernisation and defence manufacturing.

India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared procurement proposals worth approximately $11.64 billion (₹1.10 lakh crore) for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, marking a major step in the country’s ongoing military modernisation and domestic defence manufacturing drive. The approvals were granted on September 7 under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Around 98% of the approved procurement is expected to be sourced from Indian industry, reinforcing the government’s focus on indigenous design, development and manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The latest approvals cover a broad range of platforms, surveillance systems, mobility equipment and specialised technologies required by the three services.

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For the Indian Navy, the package includes procurement of Arudhra radars and the design, development and subsequent acquisition of Marine Gas Turbines. The Arudhra radar programme is intended to replace older Air Route Surveillance Radars at various naval air stations, strengthening surveillance and airspace-monitoring capabilities. The Marine Gas Turbine programme is aimed at reducing dependence on overseas suppliers for critical propulsion technology.

The Army’s requirements cleared by the DAC include Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers, Advanced Light Helicopters, Trawl Tanks and the Sarvatra Bridge System. These systems are expected to improve battlefield mobility, reconnaissance, engineering support and operations in challenging terrain.

For the Air Force, the approvals include Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers and the Defence Forces Secure Access Card system. The package therefore spans electronic warfare, secure communications, surveillance, aviation and ground-support capabilities.

The latest clearance also strengthens the order pipeline for India’s defence industrial base, with opportunities extending across radar systems, propulsion, aerospace, electronics, specialised vehicles and military infrastructure. The government’s increasing preference for domestic sourcing is intended to improve supply chain resilience while expanding participation from Indian manufacturers and technology developers.

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The procurement push comes as India continues to transition from import dependence towards greater defence self-reliance. The Indian Navy alone has reported that nearly 67% of its capital acquisition contracts over the past decade have been placed with Indian industry.